To clean a dirty driveway, first sweep away loose debris, then tackle stains with dish soap/baking soda or a dedicated degreaser, let it sit, scrub with a stiff brush, and rinse thoroughly; for tough grime, a pressure washer provides the best results but requires caution with settings to avoid damage, with professional help often recommended for best results.
Use a degreaser specifically made for concrete, such as Zep Driveway Cleaner or Oil Eater Cleaner Degreaser (available at Home Depot or Lowe's). These are alkaline-based cleaners that lift and emulsify oils. Apply according to label instructions, scrub in with a stiff brush, and rinse with a hose or pressure washer.
To make your driveway look better, start with power washing the concrete. Next assess damage and repair cracks. Then further enhance its appearance, you can talk to a contractor about resurfacing or staining a concrete driveway.
You can clean dirt and mud from your driveway with only a stiff-bristled broom and your garden hose. First, use your broom to sweep away loose dirt and rocks. If you have any caked-on mud, use your hose to soak the area. After letting the mud dampen for a few minutes, use your broom to vigorously scrub the area.
Using a pressure washer on your driveway not only cleans the surface, but also helps keep it in good condition. Pressure washing typically uses a high-pressure stream of cold water to remove grime from various driveway surfaces, including concrete, asphalt, paving stones, and brick.
Covering a wider area means that pressure washing driveways will take you fewer passes, and less time. This is the quickest option for pressure washing driveways. These machines have 2 or 3 nozzles attached to the end of a rotary arm that spins covering areas of 8 inches up to 30 inches.
How to Clean Concrete Without a Pressure Washer
Dawn dish soap. That's right, the same stuff that cleans your dishes breaks down oil molecules on concrete. Mix one quarter cup with a gallon of hot water, apply to the stain and let it sit for 15 minutes before power washing. The heat activates the soap's degreasing properties.
This material is typically produced at a utility sluice pond site by dumping raw ash into the pond and allowing it to hydrate and harden into a working platform. Additional raw ash is placed on top of the platform in thin lifts, watered, compacted, and allowed to hydrate and harden.
Driveway resurfacing typically involves removing debris, patching any cracks or potholes, and adding a new layer of asphalt, concrete, or other material.
Generally, asphalt resealing needs to be done every 3-5 years, while resurfacing is usually done every 15-20 years.
Many household products (such as cat litter, baking soda, laundry detergent, dish soap, WD-40, or degreasers) can help lift oil stains from driveways.
You can use a driveway cleaning detergent or mix soaps such as washing up liquid with water to create a homemade solution. Mix them in a bucket or other container ready for cleaning. If you have a garden hose, spray the entire driveway in an even sweeping motion.
Concrete that is sealed is more resistant to stains, but harsh chemical cleaners will damage the sealant. Stick to cleaning only with dishwashing detergent. Stained concrete should be cleaned with a pH-neutral cleaner and water to help maintain the stain color.
Some contractors use at least a little degreaser for most jobs, even to remove dirt, which can be somewhat oily. According to Hinckley, alkaline cleaners are also the preferred chemical for cleaning soot from concrete. Heavy rust stains can penetrate deeply into concrete, so they can be tough to remove completely.
It is good to start with a proven home-made method – just sprinkle the dirty place with a spoon of baking soda and pour a little hot water, then stir with a spoon. The prepared paste should neutralise the dried dirt.
Seal coating is a preventative measure that can help restore the color of your asphalt, protect it from the sun and fill in minor imperfections. Basically, it seals the top of the driveway but doesn't repair any damage. On the other hand, resurfacing means adding a new layer of asphalt over the existing coat.
ACT Concrete Cleaner
Degrease the Surface
Applying a degreaser will loosen stains in the concrete, allowing you to pressure wash them away. Some pressure washers have an attachment tool for applying degreaser. Otherwise, scrub the degreaser into the concrete with a stiff-bristled brush or push broom.
The general rule of thumb is to avoid cleaning in winter months when the cold can freeze pipes and hoses and create ice on your concrete surfaces. So, March through November is typically the best period of time for power washing.
Typical Drying Time Estimates
On average: Concrete driveway: 24–48 hours. Block paving driveway: 36–72 hours. Tarmac/asphalt driveway: 24 hours minimum.